Mixed emotions as rival camps reflect on derby result

Johnny Cocozza was the Castlebar Celtic hero in last Thursday’s showdown with Super League title rivals Westport United, as it was his poaching instincts that netted the home side a winner two minutes into added time.

“I'm delighted. I didn't play my best personally but just delighted to get the goal. It didn't matter who scored, it was all about the victory today. I was the fortunate one to get the goal but it was all about three points today,” Cocozza said afterwards.

“Westport are a good team, they're the second best team in Mayo. We're just missing so many players today. The first goal was a great finish by Oran Groarke, first time on the left foot from about 25 or 30 yards out. I know it was an open net but you see it so many times, you can blast them over.” 

Johnny Cocozza admitted that Celtic rode their luck at times as well and was disappointed to see the team concede from a corner, but was pleased with the response.

“We dusted ourselves down. We changed then from 3-5-2 to 4-3-3, which is our normal formation.” 

In the opposition camp, Westport United manager Anthony O'Neill had mixed emotions, expressing extreme disappointment in the result but great pride in his players.

“I thought we were very good tonight. It's not an easy place to come and perform as well as we did on a very difficult pitch. They've obviously done some work on it, which they need to do, and that's fine, but it probably needs a few more weeks before a game should be played. But credit to both teams, really, because it was a really good encounter. It was a physical game, as it always is between the two of us.

“Credit to both teams, they gave it absolutely everything. [Celtic] came out on the right side of the scoreline, we couldn't have really done any more. I'm proud of the players. They performed really well,” said O’Neill who admitted it was a poor first goal that Westport had conceded, particularly when they were on top.

“That happens, you just move on. We thought we grew into the game really well after that. Again, finished the second-half very, very strong. They had to change formation within the game, which isn't the first time they've had to do that against us this year. So it shows, I think, how on top we are in these games.

“I think we should have definitely had a penalty in the second-half. I think everybody on the ground felt like it was a handball. It wasn't given. I’m disappointed with that.” 

Anthony O’Neill revealed how Alex Halpin played the full game despite starting his Leaving Cert the day before, and not finishing that day’s exams until 5.20pm before rushing across to Castlebar to play the game.

“We've so many young players there. I think we're a team that's developing really, really well.

“Evan Durkin couldn't play because he's doing his Leaving Cert as well. So, I mean, I don't think a game of this magnitude should be going ahead in the middle of state exams when you have two players doing their Leaving Cert. That's just my opinion, but disappointed for them, especially Evan who missed out. But we have a good squad.

“We're certainly not going to give up on the league. Castlebar have a couple of difficult away fixtures to come. I think it's a very competitive league. We were on a very good run before coming into this game but there's not many easy games. They have to go away to Ballina, away to Glenhest, away to Conn Rangers, away to Ballyheane. We'd be hopeful that some of those clubs would take points off them, but obviously they've beaten us twice in the league now, so they're in the driving seat, even though we are ahead. They've a lot of games in hand.” 

Castlebar Celtic captain Ioseph O’Reilly said it was a relief to have secured all three points, given the number of players who were unavailable for the game.

“We knew it was going to be a struggle tonight with so many missing, and we came up with our game plan. We have great depth and quality that came in. We showed it today. It wasn't pretty. But listen, I don't care as long as we got the three points.

“We were happy enough to sit-in and defend. We know we can defend. We've got our three points. But they're still top of the league. We still have games in hand but they mean nothing until we get the three points from each of them.”